Men's Basketball | 11/15/2012 5:51:00 PM
THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE
Emporia State will participate in the Western Oregon DII Shootout, taking on Saint Martin’s and host Western Oregon this weekend.
GO WEST!
Oregon is the farthest west Emporia State has traveled since the Hornets went to Hawaii during the 2005-06 season. The Hornets went 2-1 on that trip with wins over BYU-Hawaii and Hawaii Pacific.
LAST TIME OUT
The Emporia State men’s basketball team won its 14th straight home opener with a 74-60 win over Central Christian at White Auditorium in Emporia. Kaleb Wright was the leading scorer with 25 points on 10 of 18 shooting, adding six rebounds and four assists. Daniel Shaw added 13 points on four of five shooting, also going five for six from the foul line. Gavin Brown led the Hornets in rebounds with seven and had nine points, making seven of eight free throws.
THE COACHES
Shaun Vandiver is 11-18 in his second season at Emporia State. A first round draft pick by the Golden State Warriors in 1991 spent ten years as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level. As a player he was a key component in Hutchinson CC’s tournament run to the 1988 NJCAA National Championship before earning first-team All-Big 8 honors at Colorado.
Keith Cooper is 107-143 in his 10th year at Saint Martin’s.
Brady Bergeson is 18-12 in his second year at Western Oregon.
SCOUTING SAINT MARTIN’S
Saint Martin’s played an exhibition game at Evergreen State Tuesday and won 66-50. The Saints are 1-1 on the season, having defeated Hawaii Hilo 76-67 Saturday in the GNAC/PacWest Challenge. Eric Taylor is the top scorer averaging 19.5 points per game. Rei Jensen leads Saint Martin’s in rebounding, averaging 10.0 per game.
SCOUTING WESTERN OREGON
Western Oregon enters this weekend with a record of 0-2 after home losses to Hawaii Hilo and Chaminade in the GNAC/PacWest Challenge last weekend. Andy Avgi has put up 20.5 points per game on .705 shooting this season and also leads the team with 6.5 rebounds per game. Rodney Webster has added 12.5 per game for the Wolves.
SERIES HISTORY
This weekend marks the first time that Emporia State has faced Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon.
LAST TIME IN A TOURNAMENT
Last season Emporia State participated in the Southwest Baptist Classic in Bolivar, Mo. on Nov. 25-26. The Hornets upset then #11 Central Oklahoma 71-70 and beat Evangel 77-66 in OT to move to 4-1 on the season.
UP NEXT
Emporia State returns home to take on Missouri S&T on November 20. Tip-off from W.L. White Auditorium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
